Innovative steps can reduce pollution, says Civil Surgeon

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 5

The Health Department today celebrated World Environment Day by planting saplings at the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC), Sular. On the occasion, the Patiala Civil Surgeon, Dr Satinder Singh, said, “With the participation of public and by adopting innovative measures to reduce pollution, we can make big contribution in restoration of the ecosystem.”

“The environment around us can be rejuvenated by planting more and more trees, keeping neighbourhood areas clean, avoiding wastage of water, using energy-efficient appliances and renewable energy sources,” the Patiala Civil Surgeon added.

The District Epidemiologist, Dr Sumeet Singh, said, “Climatic changes due to global warming are more visible now. Erratic changes in climate can seriously hamper crop and food production, which indirectly affects health conditions of population.”

Health Department’s media in-charge Krishan Kumar and the Sular Urban Primary Health Centre staff were present on the occasion.

Students share views on environment

Senior Secondary Model School, Punjabi University, Patiala, celebrated World Environment Day here today. In view of the prevailing Covid pandemic that has confined students mostly to homes, NCC cadets of the school organised a Google Meet and shared their views on the worsening environment conditions.

Cadet Riya spoke on “Ecosystem restoration”, theme of the World Environment Day for 2021. Cadets Gurpreet Kaur and Manmeet Kaur gave their valuable inputs on how students can contribute to restoration and preservation of the environment. Also present on the occasion was Satvir Singh, ANO, 3 PB Air Sqn, NCC, Patiala.

Plantation drive in villages

A plantation drive was organised today in various villages of Rajpura block. The drive was a part of IEC activities of the Impact Organisation, which create awareness and inculcate eco-friendly habits among villagers.

Amandeep Singh, IEC specialist, Rajpura block, Impact Organisation, said to tackle pollution and global warming more trees, including fruit bearing and medicinal, had to be planted.

“My tree my responsibility” message was shared in village WhatsApp group, which had panchayat and GPWSC members, he added.

Campaign to increase green cover

To mark the World Environment Day, Nabha Power Limited, which operates 2x700 MW supercritical thermal power plant at Rajpura, launched yet another plantation drive to increase the green cover in the town. A special campaign involving rural students to plant more trees on vacant lands in and around villages surrounding the plant was also initiated.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Executive Officer, Nabha Power Limited, Athar Shahab, said, “Restoration of the ecosystem is a national imperative. India must strike the right balance between economic growth and protection of the environment.”

“We have to evolve our model of environmentally sustainable development given our unique challenges of young, growing population and adverse environmental impacts of unfettered growth,” he added.